# Meaning of personal identifier

> act-s5A — as in force on 2026-06-04 — C2026C00232 · Compilation No. 171 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026C00232/latest/text

5A Meaning of personal identifier
          (1) In this Act:
               personal identifier means any of the following (including any of
               the following in digital form):
                 (a) fingerprints or handprints of a person (including those taken
                     using paper and ink or digital livescanning technologies);
                 (b) a measurement of a person’s height and weight;
                 (c) a photograph or other image of a person’s face;
                      Note:    See section 5BA.
                 (d) an audio or a video recording of a person (other than a video
                      recording under section 261AJ);
                 (e) an iris scan;
                  (f) a person’s signature;
                 (g) any other identifier prescribed by the regulations, other than
                      an identifier the obtaining of which would involve the
                      carrying out of an intimate forensic procedure within the
                      meaning of section 23WA of the Crimes Act 1914.
          (2) Before the Governor-General makes regulations for the purposes of
              paragraph (1)(g) prescribing an identifier, the Minister must be
              satisfied that:










                 (a) obtaining the identifier would not involve the carrying out of
                     an intimate forensic procedure within the meaning of
                     section 23WA of the Crimes Act 1914; and
                 (b) the identifier is an image of, or a measurement or recording
                     of, an external part of the body; and
                 (c) obtaining the identifier will promote one or more of the
                     purposes referred to in subsection (3).
          (3) The purposes are:
                (a) to assist in the identification of, and to authenticate the
                     identity of, any person who can be required under this Act to
                     provide a personal identifier; and
                (b) to assist in identifying, in the future, any such person; and
                (c) to improve the integrity of entry programs; and
              (ca) to improve passenger processing at Australia’s border; and
                (d) to facilitate a visa-holder’s access to his or her rights under
                     this Act or the regulations; and
                (e) to improve the procedures for determining visa applications;
                     and
                 (f) to improve the procedures for determining claims from
                     people seeking protection as refugees; and
               (fa) to assist in determining whether a person is an unlawful
                     non-citizen or a lawful non-citizen; and
                (g) to enhance the Department’s ability to identify non-citizens
                     who have a criminal history or who are of character concern;
                     and
              (ga) to assist in identifying persons who may be a security
                     concern to Australia or a foreign country; and
                (h) to combat document and identity fraud in immigration
                     matters; and
                 (i) to detect forum shopping by applicants for visas; and
                 (j) to ascertain whether:
                       (i) an applicant for a protection visa; or
                      (ii) an unauthorised maritime arrival who makes a claim for
                           protection as a refugee; or









                      (iii) an unauthorised maritime arrival who makes a claim for
                            protection on the basis that the person will suffer
                            significant harm;
                      had sufficient opportunity to avail himself or herself of
                      protection before arriving in Australia; and
                 (k) to complement anti-people smuggling measures; and
                  (l) to inform the governments of foreign countries of the identity
                      of non-citizens who are, or are to be, removed or deported
                      from Australia.